“Am I, then, so weak and so foolish,” she thought, “that I cannot take a determination which affects me personally?”
She could not close her eyes all night; but in the morning her resolution was settled.
And toward one o’clock:
“Are we not going out mother?” she said.
Mme. Favoral was hesitating.
“These early spring days are treacherous,” she objected: “you caught cold yesterday.”
“My dress was too thin. To-day I have taken my precautions.”
They started, taking their work with them, and came to occupy their accustomed seats.
Before they had even passed the gates, Mlle. Gilberte had recognized Marius de Tregars and the Count de Villegre, walking in one of the side alleys. Soon, as on the day before, they took two chairs, and settled themselves within hearing.
Never had the young girl’s heart beat with such violence. It is easy enough to take a resolution; but it is not always quite so easy to execute it, and she was asking herself if she would have strength enough to articulate a word. At last, gathering her whole courage: